israel also attacked two hamas training facilities. violence has escalated in the gaza strip over the last few days. militants fired more than a hundred rockets near israel since saturday. >>> tear gas was used to break up protests across the eu. it was quieter and wealthier nations like germany, hundreds of thousands of people went on strike to say what they call a social emergency. they want their governments to focus on job creation rather than spending cuts. >>> president obama called on both republicans and democrats today to help the middle class avoid large tax increases. the congress has only 47 days before the so-called fiscal cliff. as nbc's danielle lee reports now, business leaders and taxpayers are growing more anxious about the new year. >> reporter: while lawmakers inside the capitol fight over taxes, on the outside the message from voters is clear. >> get together and reach a compromise. we do it every day in the regular world. >> come together, not fight with each other. >> reporter: taxpayers, without an alternative b